Media Center
Ms. Heindel, Media Specialist
General Information
The Mission of Blue Lake Elementary Media Center is to be the welcoming heart of our school, to promote a love of reading, and nurture the development of lifelong readers, learners, and independent thinkers.
The media center is open to students from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Kindergarten through fifth grade students will participate in media classes and full use of the center. Students will receive age-appropriate instruction on the use of the media center, literature enrichment, study skills, and STEM/technology related lessons. Students in kindergarten and first grades may check out one book. Students in second, third, fourth, and fifth grades may check out two books. There are no late fees, however students are responsible for damaged or lost books.
Students can keep their book(s) for two weeks maximum. If they are not finished with the book after that time period, they need to renew it for another two weeks. Students in grades K-1 may check out one book at a time. Students in grades 2-5 may check out two books at a time. Read them and return them.
If you have questions regarding media programming, please call us at 822-4070 (x21945 or x22096).
Reading Incentives:
Students are able to earn Brag Tags for reading SSYRA (Sunshine State Young Readers Association) books and passing an Accelerated Reader Quiz. They can also vote for their favorite book and attend an SSYRA celebration.
Students participate in the Accelerated Reader program. They can earn prizes and attend an end of year celebration for meeting their AR reading goal.
Types of books in the media center:
- Fiction
- Everybody fiction
- Nonfiction
- Biography
- Reference
Additional Resources
Sunshine State Readers JR
Sunshine State Readers (3rd-5th)
Library Media Access for School and Classroom Libraries
The purpose of the school library media center is to encourage the love of reading and support the school community and curriculum goals through self-selected reading materials. The media specialist collaborates with families and teachers to support students in the selection of reading materials that meet their reading interests.
Parents and guardians have the right to limit their child’s access to materials in the school library and classroom library. The library media access level a parent/guardian selects for their student will be in effect for the student’s academic career in Volusia County Schools. Changes may be made at any time by completing the School and Classroom Library Access Form on the Parent Portal.
By default, all students have standard access to age/grade appropriate materials in the school and classroom library.
Definitions of Access
Standard Access- A student has access to age/grade appropriate materials in the school library and their classroom libraries.
Unlimited Access: A student has full access to the materials in Volusia County Schools’ libraries and classroom libraries including access to any titles that require parent permission. This includes permission for the student to check out Young Adult (YA) titles when the student is in middle school.
Restricted Access: A student is permitted access to materials in Volusia County Schools’ libraries and classroom libraries except for specific titles as designated by their parent/guardian. The parent/guardian is responsible for restricting specific materials in their child’s school library or classroom libraries by completing the School and Classroom Library Access Form on the Parent Portal.
School Card Catalog (Search for Book)
Library Media Center Collection Development
Each school library media collection is developed in accordance with Volusia County School Board Policy 320 and Florida Statute 1006.28.
Each book made available to students through a school district library media center or included in a recommended or assigned school or grade-level reading list must be selected by a school district employee who holds a valid educational media specialist certificate, regardless of whether the book is purchased, donated, or otherwise made available to students.
2. Each district school board shall adopt procedures for developing library media center collections and post the procedures on the website for each school within the district. The procedures must:
a. Require that book selections meet the criteria in s. 1006.40(3)(d).
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Free of pornography and material prohibited under s. 847.012.
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Suited to student needs and their ability to comprehend the material presented.
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Appropriate for the grade level and age group for which the materials are used or made available.
b. Require consultation of reputable, professionally recognized reviewing periodicals and school community stakeholders.
c. Provide for library media center collections based on reader interest, support of state academic standards and aligned curriculum, and the academic needs of students and faculty.
d. Provide for the regular removal or discontinuance of books based on, at a minimum, physical condition, rate of recent circulation, alignment to state academic standards and relevancy to curriculum, out-of-date content, and required removal pursuant to subparagraph (a)2.
Selection Process
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The media specialist develops a recommended list of books that meet the needs of the school per the collection development guidelines.
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The media specialist provides the school media advisory committee with professional reviews of each book prior to meeting.
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The school media advisory committee meets to review and approve the list. The committee must come to a consensus on approvals. If the committee is unable to come to a consensus, the principal along with the media specialist is responsible for the final decision.
Challenged Materials:
Volusia County School Board Policy 320 establishes the procedures for the review of complaints concerning media materials.